2002–03 Rochdale A.F.C. season
2002–03 Rochdale A.F.C. season is said to be one of the most important topics today as it has a significant impact on people's lives. It doesn't matter if you are a student, a professional, an art lover or a technology expert, 2002–03 Rochdale A.F.C. season is a topic that undoubtedly concerns you. In this article, we will cover different aspects of 2002–03 Rochdale A.F.C. season, from its history to its relevance in modern society. We will also explore the various opinions and perspectives surrounding 2002–03 Rochdale A.F.C. season, with the goal of providing a comprehensive view of the topic. Get ready to immerse yourself in the fascinating world of 2002–03 Rochdale A.F.C. season and discover its impact on today's world!
| 2002–03 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | David Kilpatrick |
| Manager | Paul Simpson |
| League Division Three | 19th |
| FA Cup | Fifth Round |
| League Cup | First Round |
| Top goalscorer | League: Lee McEvilly All: Lee McEvilly/Paul Connor |
The 2002–03 Rochdale A.F.C. season was the club's 82nd season in the Football League, and the 29th consecutive season in the fourth tier (League Division Three).
Statistics
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | League Division 3 | FA Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| MF |  ENG
|
Chris Beech | 19 | 2 | 16 + 2 | 1 | 1 + 0 | 1 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Clive Platt | 49 | 9 | 40 + 2 | 6 | 6 + 0 | 3 | 1 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Darren Hockenhull | 7 | 1 | 6 + 1 | 1 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
David Flitcroft | 48 | 2 | 40 + 1 | 2 | 5 + 1 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
| DF |  WAL
|
Gareth Griffiths | 47 | 7 | 41 + 1 | 6 | 3 + 0 | 1 | 1 + 0 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | |
| MF |  NIR
|
Gavin Melaugh | 24 | 2 | 17 + 2 | 1 | 5 + 0 | 1 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Ian Bishop | 9 | 0 | 5 + 3 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | |
| MF |  ESP
|
Jesús Fernández Mengual | 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
| GK | ENG
|
John Baker | 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Kevin Townson | 28 | 1 | 5 + 19 | 1 | 0 + 2 | 0 | 0 + 1 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | |
| DF |  IRL
|
Lee Andrews | 8 | 0 | 8 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Lee Duffy | 27 | 0 | 19 + 3 | 0 | 3 + 0 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Lee Hodges | 8 | 0 | 3 + 4 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | |
| FW | NIR
|
Lee McEvilly | 43 | 15 | 27 + 10 | 14 | 4 + 1 | 1 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Matt Doughty | 47 | 0 | 39 + 2 | 0 | 4 + 0 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | |
| GK |  SCO
|
Matt Gilks | 22 | 0 | 19 + 1 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Michael Oliver | 24 | 2 | 17 + 3 | 2 | 2 + 0 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Michael Taylor | 2 | 0 | 2 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
| GK | ENG
|
Neil Bennett | 1 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
| GK | WAL
|
Neil Edwards | 32 | 0 | 26 + 0 | 0 | 5 + 0 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
| MF | NIR
|
Paddy McCourt | 30 | 3 | 12 + 14 | 2 | 0 + 2 | 1 | 0 + 1 | 0 | 0 + 1 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Paul Connor | 46 | 15 | 30 + 9 | 12 | 5 + 0 | 3 | 1 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 1 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Paul Simpson | 41 | 11 | 30 + 5 | 10 | 3 + 1 | 1 | 1 + 0 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Richard Jobson | 20 | 0 | 15 + 1 | 0 | 3 + 0 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
| FW | NIR
|
Rory Patterson | 9 | 0 | 2 + 6 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 1 | 0 | |
| 29 | DF | NIR
|
Scott Warner | 9 | 0 | 6 + 1 | 0 | 2 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 |
| DF |  AUS
|
Shane Cansdell-Sherriff | 4 | 0 | 3 + 0 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
| FW | IRL
|
Shane Murphy | 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Simon Grand | 28 | 2 | 22 + 1 | 2 | 5 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Stephen Hill | 12 | 1 | 9 + 1 | 1 | 2 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Steve Macauley | 7 | 0 | 6 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | |
| DF | WAL
|
Wayne Evans | 47 | 0 | 40 + 0 | 0 | 6 + 0 | 0 | 1 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
| MF | IRL
|
Kieron Durkan | 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | 0 + 0 | 0 | |
League Division Three
| 10 August 2002 1 | Rochdale | 1–0 | Leyton Orient | Rochdale |
Macauley 23'Connor  90' |
Report | Smith 20' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3,252 Referee: Eddie Ilderton |
| 13 August 2002 2 | Lincoln City | 2–0 | Rochdale | Lincoln |
| Yeo 58'
58' Cropper 81'Mayo 81'Smith 85' |
Report | Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 2,894 Referee: Joe Ross |
| 17 August 2002 3 | Bristol Rovers | 1–2 | Rochdale | Bristol |
| Tait 13' Bryant 45' |
Report | Platt 36' 50' Simpson 78' |
Stadium: Memorial Stadium Attendance: 6,478 Referee: Mark Warren |
| 24 August 2002 4 | Rochdale | 1–1 | Darlington | Rochdale |
| McEvilly 7' Griffiths 58'Evans 85' |
Report | Nicholls 13' Conlon 33'Wainwright 44' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2,834 Referee: Scott Mathieson |
| 26 August 2002 5 | Wrexham | 2–5 | Rochdale | Wrexham |
| Thomas 13' Morrell 38' 75'Lawrence 41'Holmes 45' |
Report | McEvilly 17' Simpson 22', 42', 59'Griffiths 24'Oliver 50' |
Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 4,340 Referee: Paul Rejer |
| 31 August 2002 6 | Rochdale | 1–2 | Southend United | Rochdale |
| Macauley 0' Duffy 32'McEvilly 60'Griffiths 84' |
Report | Rawle 36' Jones 44'Beard 58'Smith 60'Bramble 83' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2,852 Referee: Carl Boyeson |
| 6 September 2002 7 | Carlisle United | 0–2 | Rochdale | Carlisle |
| Summerbell 61' Kelly 83' |
Report | Platt 11' Simpson 21' |
Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 4,501 Referee: Roy Pearson |
| 14 September 2002 8 | Rochdale | 1–1 | Shrewsbury Town | Rochdale |
| Simpson 79' (pen.) |
Report | Jemson 5' Van Blerk 39'Tolley 64' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2,914 Referee: Tony Bates |
| 17 September 2002 9 | Rochdale | 4–3 | Cambridge United | Rochdale |
| Bridges 6' (o.g.) Simpson 60'Flitcroft 71'Townson 90'Oliver 90'McEvilly 90' |
Report | Duncan 11'  14'Bridges 23'Tudor 42'Wanless 52' (pen.)
79' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2,392 Referee: Graham Laws |
| 21 September 2002 10 | Kidderminster Harriers | 0–0 | Rochdale | Kidderminster |
| Broughton 26' |
Report | Griffiths 47' |
Stadium: Aggborough Stadium Attendance: 2,685 Referee: Keith Hill |
| 28 September 2002 11 | Rochdale | 3–1 | Macclesfield Town | Rochdale |
| Griffiths 13' Connor 21', 65'Platt 81' |
Report | Welsh 34' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3,090 Referee: Mark Clattenburg |
| 5 October 2002 12 | Swansea City | 1–1 | Rochdale | Swansea |
| Thomas 32' Freestone 45'Mumford 45'Howard 66' |
Report | Platt 43'Oliver 45'Flitcroft 69'Connor 71' |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 3,732 Referee: Rob Styles |
| 12 October 2002 13 | Hull City | 3–0 | Rochdale | Hull |
| Jevons 28' Branch 45', 84' 60'Whittle 90' |
Report | Flitcroft 13' Jobson 42'Griffiths 61' |
Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 9,057 Referee: Phil Crossley |
| 19 October 2002 14 | Rochdale | 1–2 | Scunthorpe United | Rochdale |
| Oliver 7' Flitcroft 20'Jobson 29'Evans 43'McCourt 51'Simpson 86' |
Report | Graves 5' Carruthers 50', 72'Sparrow 56'McCombe 62' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3,442 Referee: Mark Cowburn |
| 26 October 2002 15 | Boston United | 3–1 | Rochdale | Boston |
| Weatherstone 20' Battersby 64'Douglas 90' |
Report | Duffy 28' Flitcroft 81' 82' |
Stadium: York Street Attendance: 2,653 Referee: Brian Curson |
| 29 October 2002 16 | Rochdale | 3–3 | Exeter City | Rochdale |
| Beech 41' Simpson 59'Griffiths 86'Platt 89'Flitcroft 90' |
Report | Flack 1', 75'
65' Thomas 79'Coppinger 90' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1,944 Referee: Colin Webster |
| 2 November 2002 17 | Rochdale | 0–1 | Rushden & Diamonds | Rochdale |
| Report | Lowe 10' Mills 45'Darby 64' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2,628 Referee: Phil Prosser |
| 9 November 2002 18 | Oxford United | 2–0 | Rochdale | Oxford |
| Hunt 17' Whitehead 19'Basham 70' |
Report | Stadium: Kassam Stadium Attendance: 4,547 Referee: Grant Hegley |
| 23 November 2002 19 | Rochdale | 0–1 | York City | Rochdale |
| Doughty 23' Griffiths 87' |
Report | Potter 35' Duffield 71' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3,056 Referee: Mark Cowburn |
| 30 November 2002 20 | Torquay United | 2–2 | Rochdale | Torquay |
| Gritton 52' Benefield 73'Hazell 90' |
Report | Connor 74' Griffiths 78' 64' 88' |
Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 2,754 Referee: Peter Walton |
| 14 December 2002 21 | Rochdale | 4–0 | Hartlepool United | Rochdale |
| Platt 24' McEvilly 43', 62'Connor 56'Townson 85' |
Report | Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3,059 Referee: Mike Pike |
| 21 December 2002 22 | Bury | 1–1 | Rochdale | Bury |
| Newby 62' Billy 74' |
Report | Melaugh 7' Flitcroft 20'Doughty 35'McEvilly 66' 74' |
Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 5,827 Referee: Roy Pearson |
| 26 December 2002 23 | Rochdale | 2–2 | Wrexham | Rochdale |
| Connor 2', 18' Duffy 67'Jobson 74' |
Report | Morrell 23', 75' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3,727 Referee: Steve Baines |
| 28 December 2002 24 | Bournemouth | 3–3 | Rochdale | Bournemouth |
| Browning 6' S. Fletcher 45'O'Connor 87' (pen.)C. Fletcher 88' |
Report | Flitcroft 16' Melaugh 36'McEvilly 45' (pen.)Grand 61'Platt 73'Warner 85' |
Stadium: Dean Court Attendance: 6,240 Referee: Paul Rejer |
| 18 January 2003 25 | Southend United | 1–0 | Rochdale | Southend |
| Beard 41' Bramble 89' |
Report | Grand 55' |
Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 3,645 Referee: Iain Williamson |
| 21 January 2003 26 | Rochdale | 0–1 | Lincoln City | Rochdale |
| Flitcroft 44' |
Report | Morgan 16' Yeo 41'Futcher 83' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2,122 Referee: Carl Boyeson |
| 8 February 2003 27 | Rochdale | 2–1 | Oxford United | Rochdale |
| Grand 40' Oliver 44'Melaugh 89' |
Report | Savage 71' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2,764 Referee: Mike Pike |
| 11 February 2003 28 | Darlington | 1–0 | Rochdale | Darlington |
| Conlon 76' Whitehead 90' |
Report | Platt 21' Simpson 69' |
Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 2,479 Referee: Eddie Ilderton |
| 22 February 2003 29 | Rochdale | 0–1 | Carlisle United | Rochdale |
| Flitcroft 41' |
Report | Green 62' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3,247 Referee: Richard Beeby |
| 25 February 2003 30 | Leyton Orient | 0–1 | Rochdale | London |
| Toner 45' Tate 90' |
Report | McEvilly 31' 45' (pen.) Andrews 90' |
Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 2,633 Referee: Frazer Stretton |
| 1 March 2003 31 | Shrewsbury Town | 3–1 | Rochdale | Shrewsbury |
| Jagielka 5', 40' Lowe 67' |
Report | Evans 64' Melaugh 77'McEvilly 84' |
Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 3,423 Referee: Brian Curson |
| 4 March 2003 32 | Cambridge United | 2–2 | Rochdale | Cambridge |
| Kitson 4' Tudor 45'Iriekpen 80' |
Report | McEvilly 2' 37' McCourt 51' 70'Duffy 70' |
Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 2,586 Referee: Howard Webb |
| 11 March 2003 33 | Rochdale | 1–1 | Bournemouth | Rochdale |
| Duffy 30' Griffiths 49' |
Report | Fletcher 31' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1,958 Referee: Andy Penn |
| 15 March 2003 34 | Rochdale | 1–0 | Boston United | Rochdale |
| Flitcroft 33' McEvilly 75' (pen.)Duffy 85' |
Report | Chapman 37' Ellender 68' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2,538 Referee: Trevor Parkes |
| 18 March 2003 35 | Scunthorpe United | 3–1 | Rochdale | Scunthorpe |
| Hayes 10', 66' Kilford 31'Beagrie 51'Carruthers 52'Graves 61' |
Report | McCourt 13' Flitcroft 21'McEvilly 45'Duffy 79'Grand 89' |
Stadium: Glanford Park Attendance: 3,616 Referee: Mark Clattenburg |
| 22 March 2003 36 | Exeter City | 1–1 | Rochdale | Exeter |
| Walker 15' (pen.) Curran 87' |
Report | Connor 30' (pen.) Beech 43' |
Stadium: St James Park Attendance: 4,003 Referee: Keith Hill |
| 24 March 2003 37 | Rushden & Diamonds | 3–3 | Rochdale | Irthlingborough |
| Hall 49' Lowe 65', 73' |
Report | Simpson 27' Grand 63'McCourt 87' |
Stadium: Nene Park Attendance: 3,444 Referee: Lee Cable |
| 5 April 2003 38 | Rochdale | 0–2 | Torquay United | Rochdale |
| Melaugh 49' |
Report | Griffiths 18' (o.g.) Clist 52'Gritton 71' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2,216 Referee: Phil Joslin |
| 8 April 2003 39 | Rochdale | 1–1 | Bristol Rovers | Rochdale |
| Connor 21' |
Report | Astafjevs 44' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1,658 Referee: Matt Messias |
| 12 April 2003 40 | York City | 2–2 | Rochdale | York |
| Graydon 35' (pen.) 39' Edmondson 63' |
Report | Connor 3' 36' McCourt 25'McEvilly 70' (pen.) |
Stadium: Bootham Crescent Attendance: 3,966 Referee: Paul Robinson |
| 15 April 2003 41 | Rochdale | 0–1 | Kidderminster Harriers | Rochdale |
| Flitcroft 80' |
Report | Hinton 80' Shilton 83' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1,810 Referee: Eddie Ilderton |
| 18 April 2003 42 | Rochdale | 1–2 | Bury | Rochdale |
| 15:00 BST | Flitcroft 22' Simpson 24'Stuart 34' (o.g.) |
Report | Nelson 23' Cramb 71' (pen.)Connell 90' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4,513 Referee: Mike Dean |
| 21 April 2003 43 | Hartlepool United | 2–2 | Rochdale | Hartlepool |
| Widdrington 42', 52' |
Report | Grand 23' McEvilly 45' |
Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 5,408 Referee: Steve Baines |
| 26 April 2003 44 | Rochdale | 1–2 | Swansea City | Rochdale |
| Griffiths 43' |
Report | Nugent 18' Richards 68' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2,777 Referee: Frazer Stretton |
| 29 April 2003 45 | Rochdale | 2–1 | Hull City | Rochdale |
| McEvilly 6' Griffiths 16'Hockenhull 18' 27'Evans 81' |
Report | Melton 24' Burgess 65'Reeves 87' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2,225 Referee: Phil Prosser |
| 3 May 2003 46 | Macclesfield Town | 3–2 | Rochdale | Macclesfield |
| Lightbourne 34' Hockenhull 48' (o.g.)Askey 88'Tipton 90' |
Report | Hockenhull 27' McEvilly 36' (pen.)Patterson 51'Hill 70' |
Stadium: Moss Rose Attendance: 2,873 Referee: Keith Hill |
FA Cup
| 16 November 2002 1 | Rochdale | 3–2 | Peterborough United | Rochdale |
| Connor 3' Platt 12'Beech 61' |
Report | Burton 11' Daníelsson 25'Fenn 83'Clarke 88' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2,566 Referee: Alan Kaye |
| 7 December 2002 2 | Bristol Rovers | 1–1 | Rochdale | Bristol |
| Plummer 59' Allen 73' |
Report | Platt 6' |
Stadium: Memorial Stadium Attendance: 4,369 Referee: Trevor Parkes |
| 17 December 2002 2 | Rochdale | 3–2 | Bristol Rovers | Rochdale |
| Platt 34' 65' Flitcroft 47'Connor 48'McCourt 74' 80' |
Report | Barrett 19' 85' Astafjevs 46'Tait 51' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2,206 Referee: Trevor Parkes |
| 4 January 2003 3 | Preston North End | 1–2 | Rochdale | Preston |
| Lucketti 20' Anderson 48' 58'Broomes 53' |
Report | Jobson 18' McEvilly 39'Simpson 54'Connor 64'Flitcroft 88'Grand 90' |
Stadium: Deepdale Attendance: 8,762 Referee: Roy Pearson |
| 25 January 2003 4 | Rochdale | 2–0 | Coventry City | Rochdale |
| Connor 33' Griffiths 47' |
Report | Pead 37' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 9,156 Referee: Mick Fletcher |
| 16 February 2003 5 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3–1 | Rochdale | Wolverhampton |
| 19:00 GMT | Ndah 32' Miller 79'Proudlock 90' |
Report | Grand 31' Melaugh 41' 52' |
Stadium: Molineux Stadium Attendance: 23,921 Referee: Uriah Rennie |
League Cup
| 11 September 2002 1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–0 | Rochdale | Sheffield |
| Sibon 2' |
Report | Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium Attendance: 8,815 Referee: George Cain |
League Trophy
| 22 October 2002 1 | Rochdale | 0–1 | Bury | Rochdale |
| Macauley 69' |
Report | Johnrose 24' Woodthorpe 72'Hill 89' |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2,486 Referee: Mike Ryan |